How to Convert M4A to WAV Windows, Mac, Online & Free

Summary: Here are 5 methods to convert M4A to WAV on Windows and Mac incl. using VLC, Audacity, online tools... To keep the original audio quality without sacrificing the conversion speed, we recommend using the most powerful converter, VideoProc Converter AI.

What is M4A? M4A files are encoded with lossy Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), which helps a lot to reduce the file size. But the problem is that M4A is compatible with just a few devices and platforms, mainly Apple devices, such as voice memos on iPhone, iPad, iPod, iTunes, etc.

To make M4A files compatible with more devices and platforms, changing M4A to WAV would be a good option. And in this guide, we will show you 5 methods on how to convert M4A to WAV with the best audio converters. Check them now.

1. How to Convert M4A to WAV Windows 10/11 & Mac

Wondering how to convert M4A to WAV on Windows? VideoProc Converter AI is a fast M4A to WAV converter and a robust video converter that specializes in all types of media file format conversion. If you want to convert M4A to WAV Windows 10, 8, or 7, this program works like a charm. It's also compatible with Windows 11. With support of full GPU acceleration, audio and video files can be converted in batch in seconds or minutes without any quality loss, for sure. Both commonly used audio file formats and obscure ones are covered by it, like M4A, WMV, MP3, M4R, AAC, FLAC, OGG, etc. Besides, it is built in with powerful audio/video editor and recorder.

Follow the steps below on how to convert M4A to WAV on Windows and macOS.

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Step 1. Add music files to the list.

Click Video > + Music to add M4A file(s) to the list, or you can simply drag and drop the music file into the centerboard.

Step 2. Start converting M4A to WAV.

After loading up all M4A files, select Music in the section of Target Format. And then choose WAV.

Step 3. Run the conversion process.

Click Browse to set an output destination for the generated WAV file(s). And then hit RUN to start to turn M4A to WAV in batch or not.

A Few More Things You Can Do With This M4A to WAV Converter, VideoProc Converter AI

The content above is about how to convert M4A to WAV on Windows with VideoProc Converter AI. But besides that, here are a few more things you can do with this M4A to WAV converter, including changing the audio quality, bit rate, and the metadata.

• 1. Click Option to open the parameter adjustment panel for getting full control over the exported WAV file.
• Move the quality slider left or right to get a lower or higher sound quality.
• Go to the Audio Codec section to enter the desired Audio Codec, Sample Rate, and Bit Rate.
• Click Name & Tag to edit metadata like the Output Name, Song Name, Artist, Album, and Genre, etc.



• 2. Choose another audio file format via the Target Format tab.
• 3. Press Merge if you need to concat multiple audio files.

Bonus Tip:

Since the most common WAV audio format is unpressed audio, WAV files will be comparatively larger than MP3 files. So if you need to send large WAV files or folders to someone, consider using FileWhopper.

• Transfer files and folders up to 10TB with no compression needed.
• Pay-as-you-go service with no subscriptions or monthly payments.
• Use Zero Knowledge Encryption to prevent anyone from accessing your secured data.
• Highly popular among photographers and videographers.

2. Convert M4A to WAV Online

Online tools are becoming popular among users, since they require no downloading or installing programs. Despite the limitations of file size or daily conversions, it is quite convenient. The following is how to convert M4A to WAV online with Zamzar, the M4A to WAV converter online.

Step 1. Open Zamzar online audio converter in your browser on your Windows 10/11 or Mac computer.

Step 2. Load your M4A files by clicking on the Add File button. You can import multiple files. However, you need to know that Zamzar only allows users to convert 2 files a day for free. For converting more files, you have to upgrade your account, with three options, basic plan with $9/month, pro plan with $16/month, and business plan with $25/month.

Step 3. After files imported, click the Convert button to start processing.

Step 4. Wait for Zamzar finishing the converting, and then just download the converted files to your computer.

3. How to Convert M4A to WAV on Mac

Apple iTunes is a default app on Mac. You can use it to convert M4A file to WAV on Mac for free. Surprisingly, it can also work as an M4A to WAV converter for Windows users. Follow the steps below to find out how to convert .m4a to .wav.

Step 1. Launch iTunes, Click on Preference from the Edit menu. Go to General > Import Settings.

Step 2. Choose WAV Encoder in the drop-down menu next to the Import Using. Save the change by clicking on OK. Now you can change the M4A file to WAV format. Keep reading.

Step 3. If the M4A file has already existed in iTunes library, you can just choose File > Convert > Create WAV Version, then another WAV version of this file would be displayed in iTunes Library;

However, if the M4A files are not in iTunes library, the operation would be a little different. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and click File > Convert > Convert to WAV. Then it would ask you to locate and import the M4A files. Just choose the files and click Open button. iTunes will change them in WAV format and show them in library.

Step 4. Now you just need to jump to the library folder and find the converted files. Have no idea where it is? Click on Edit > Preference > Advanced in iTunes, and you will see the folder path.

4. Convert M4A to WAV Audacity

Audacity is an open-source audio editor that also allows you to convert convert to WAV from M4A on Windows, Mac, and Linux for free. But before everything gets started, you have to download FFmpeg Library. Because The FFmpeg library allows Audacity to import and export a much larger range of audio formats, M4A included. Follow the steps below oo how to convert M4A to WAV using audacity.

Step 1. Download and install FFmpeg first. Normally when you have FFmpeg installed on your computer, Audacity would automatically detect the library, and you have no need to do another thing.

If it fails detecting the library, just launch Audacity, go to the menu bar to click Edit > Preferences, select Libraries on the pop-up dialog window, and click the Locate button to do it manually.

Note. Some of you may also need to have an LAME MP3 library installed on your computer. The process is the same as installing the FFmpeg library.

Step 2. Launch Audacity again. Go to File > Open and select M4A file(s) you want to convert.

Step 3. Click on File on the menu bar and select Export > Export as WAV.

Step 4. Set an easy-to-found position as the output file folder.

Step 5. Click on OK to save changes. On the pop-up Edit Metadata panel, press OK again to start the conversion process.

5. VLC Convert M4A to WAV

Even though VLC works as a media player, we can also use it as an M4A to WAV converter and change M4A to WAV. Here's how to change M4A to WAV with VLC media player.

Step 1. Launch VLC on your computer, click on Media tab > Convert / Save.

Step 2. In the new window, click +Add button to locate the M4A file and import it. Then choose Convert / Save button again.

Step 3. On the new panel, press the Create a new profile button which can be found next to the red X button. It will lead you to the page with more video and audio formats options.

Step 4. On the pop-up panel, enter WAV as the Profile Name. Next, you choose Encapsulation > WAV. After that, press Audio codec, tick up the option box of Audio, and choose WAV as the audio codec. If necessary, adjust the audio sample rate to 44100Hz. Next, you click on Save to go back to the previous window.

Step 5. Choose WAV from the available profile. Afterwards, you choose the destination path and click Start button.

Over to You

Here are all the 5 methods on how to convert M4A to WAV and you can just choose the one you prefer. Still have no clue? If you want to convert M4A to WAV Windows 10 and do it in batch, then VideoProc Converter AI would be the best option; if you prefer free software, iTunes, Audacity and VLC would be great; if you do not want to downloading any installation file, then go to the online way.